HOT BUTTON ISSUES

 or

Pet Peeves
or

Tough Love For Bloggers

Just as publishing, marketing, promotion of books and reading is affected by the changes happening every day on the internet, so writers need to step up with their blogging. There are more and more writers competing blogging to promote their published, or soon to be published, work.

To put out a good product (good blogging) it becomes necessary for the writer to axe limit the amount of time spent reading and supporting other writers on the internet. There is only so much time in a day to support fellow writers, without having one's own writing suffer. Eventually the time spent on blog reading and support will be whittled down to only those who put out a good product. So, if you blog, don’t take advantage of other writer's time by not keeping your writing at its best.

Here are the Pet Peeves things bloggers do that annoy me and are causing me to rethink who I  (and many other writers who I've heard the grumblings from) will support:

·        Author interviews—unless this is in conjunction with a book review—I  am not interested in don’t have time for hopping around numerous sites to support an author who is being interviewed umpteen numbers of times. Unless you are famous, who cares hearing the same things about you and your book is a bit self centered, eh? a little redundant, no?

·        Not everyone can be a blogger no matter how much the romance of it intrigues. If you have nothing to say don’t blog you might think about a static web page instead.

·        If you have something to say—say it in a fresh way, or develop those skills necessary to hook a reader and engage their attention enough to entice them to read your blog. You’re supposed to be a writer, so use your writer skills.

·        Don’t write words just to fill a page—that’s deadly and will soon cause your supporters to flee not return to read your blog (you know, the personal stuff most strangers don’t give a flying fig about aren't necessarily that interested in).

·        If you are just starting out, find your niche—those subjects that are aligned with what you are promoting (your book or your passion)—and write about that. If you are excited, others are more likely to catch your enthusiasm.

·        Read lots of other blogs that inspire you even though the subject matter may not be about what you are writing—think: cross pollination. Keep an open mind, something useful might drop in.

If you are trying to gain a following (to sell books) and don’t know what to blog about, here-in lies wisdom slant your post for your audience—the ones who will buy your books! Visit Linda Adams blog post: Engaging Readers with Social Media for great ideas on targeting your audience. 

Now, having posted some of my pet peeves and subjects to be wary of, you need to be inspired to do your thing by going to Alina Sayre’s blog, Illuminations to read Dance Like No One’s Watching

For great information all the time on blogging, promoting, publishing and writing, or if you just need a general (humorous) uplift, visit KristenLamb’s blog.

So, did I hit a nerve? Have you had the same thoughts? Tell me (the good and/or the bad).